Perhaps no other eastern mountain range combines low elevation and fantastic scenery as much as the southern Taconic Mountains, a highland area located where Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York meet. The peaks rising above the oval-shaped plateau rise to the 2200 to 2600 foot level, puny by any standards, but large areas of stunted vegetaion on most summits, freqent steep drop-offs and ledges, and spectacular dark ravines and their waterfalls make this compact area a more worthwile mountain destination than many higher ranges.

The Southern Taconics are best thought of as two parallel mountain ranges, running north-south, cradling a high plateau, itself studded with peaks. The drop-off from the crest of these ranges to the lowlands to the east (the Housatanic Valley in Connecticut and Massachusetts) and west (the Harlem Valley in upstate New York) is generally well over 1000 feet, but only half as much to the interior plateau.

The plateau, called Mount Riga in Connecticut and Mount Washington in Massachusetts even though there are no peaks with those names, is a thinly settled highland of dirt roads and thick woods.

The western range follows closely the boundary of New York State and consists of two main summits, Brace Mountain and Alander Mountain.

The eastern range is higher and longer that the western, and is the route of the Appalachian Trail for its whole length through the area.

Map of Southern Taconic RangeClick on red triangle icons for links to other ranges.

Other Ranges: To go to pages for other ranges either click on the map above, or on range names in the hierarchy snapshot below, which show the parent, siblings, and children of the Southern Taconic Range.